Rusty Crayfish

Scientific name: Orconectes rusticus (Girard, 1852)

Common name: Rusty crayfish

Native To: Ohio River Basin (includes Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee)

Date of U.S. Introduction: First discovered outside of its native range is the 1960s (in Wisconsin)

Images: Google

Means of Introduction: Used as bait by anglers

Impact: Competes aggressively with native crayfish species

Current U.S. Distribution: Great Lakes Region, New England, and Eastern U.S. (NAS Database map)

Management Plans: Aquatic Species

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Orconectes rusticus
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Rusty Crayfish
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Harmful Aquatic Hitchhikers: Crustaceans: Rusty Crayfish
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Orconectes rusticus Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Rusty Crayfish
DOI. FWS. Ashland National Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Dispersion

Orconectes rusticus - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
DOI. USGS. Southeast Ecological Science Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Special Note: Distribution maps and collection information (State and County)

Aquatic Invasive Species: Rusty Crayfish (PDF | 131 KB)
Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Rusty Crayfish Watchcard (PDF | 110 KB)

Rusty Crayfish (PDF | 104 KB)
Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution

Rusty Crayfish
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Invasion of the Rusty Crayfish (PDF | 1.4 MB)
Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution

Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Dispersion; Legal Aspects; Controls

Rusty Crayfish Fact Sheet (PDF | 68 KB)
Conservation Commission of Missouri.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Distribution

Orconectes rusticus (Rusty Crayfish)
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution;

Environmental Education for Kids: Rusty Crayfish
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Rusty Crayfish - Exotic Aquatics on the Move
National Sea Grant Network and Geographic Education Alliances.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Aquatic Invaders: Rusty Crayfish (PDF | 660 KB)
University of Georgia. Sea Grant and Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Orconectes rusticus, Rusty Crayfish
University of Michigan. Museum of Zoology. Animal Diversity Web.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution

Rusty Crayfish: A Nasty Invader
University of Minnesota. Minnesota Sea Grant.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Aquatic Invaders: Rusty Crayfish (PDF | 634 KB)
National Sea Grant College Program; Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Rusty Crayfish (PDF | 341 KB)
Pennsylvania Sea Grant and Penn State Erie.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (Canada). Invading Species Awareness Program.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

Orconectes rusticus (crustacean) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Organizations

Rusty Crayfish in the Great Lakes Region
Great Lakes Information Network.
Photographs; Introduction History

Rusty Crayfish: Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
Maryland Invasive Species Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Legal Aspects